As steam fills the air, my family joyfully anticipates idlis. Upon lifting the top of the cooker, fresh batches of idlis await. Idlis are soft, fluffy, round-shaped cakes. They are made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Idlis are savored by a homemade peanut chutney dip and sambar lentil stew. Growing up in India, Idli was my father’s favorite South Indian tiffin dish. Prior to my father leaving India for the U.S., his mother gifted him with an idli cooker. He was initially reluctant to take it with him, little knowing that the possession would serve as an essential gift during times of need. Idlis represent one of my father’s favorite memories during his childhood; eating the dish with his family and friends. He remembers his mother teaching him the process of making and fermenting idli dal batter. When my father first experienced homesickness in the U.S, he decided to use his Idli cooker to make his favorite dish. Upon taking a few bites, it brought back the flavors and memories integral to his life in India. The soft, fluffy texture and aromas of flavors brought him the comfort that he was yearning for. Despite being 7,667 miles apart, it felt like he was right at home in those moments. Now, it is a weekly tradition for my family to eat idlis. Thanks to a gift from my grandmother, my father was able to share a part of his culture with me, which ignited my love for South Indian cuisine. As a second-generation immigrant, idli is a dish that brings me that same home feeling that my father felt.



 

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant